Best weapon for the zombie apocalypse?

[exvassalofnemesis]

How about some feed back for an obsidian mixed with metal(s), such as say carbon sword. I got weak arms and am taking this zombie threat seriously....So I need a sharp sword. Sharper than steel. Ideas?

[Stercutus]

How about some feed back for an obsidian mixed with metal(s), such as say carbon sword. I got weak arms and am taking this zombie threat seriously....So I need a sharp sword. Sharper than steel. Ideas?

[exvassalofnemesis]

Ok...I really am trying to take this threat on my life seriously...let us leave star wars out of this.

[Rev]

How about some feed back for an obsidian mixed with metal(s), such as say carbon sword. I got weak arms and am taking this zombie threat seriously....So I need a sharp sword. Sharper than steel. Ideas?

There are no magic metals that will allow you to properly use a bladed weapon without the strength to back it. If you are taking the zombie threat seriously you might want to lift some weights. Start small, work your way up.

[Black Beard]

Steel is better than pretty much any other metal for swords. Our metallurgy allows us to balance strength, hardness and toughness like no other material.

Real swords (designed to kill people) are actually pretty light and are designed so they can be moved quickly. The pommel acts as a counterweght. They are not designed to chop down trees.

My 5th century style sword with a 30" long X 2" wide blade weighs 32oz. It probably would have a hard time cutting 6" deep in to a (zombie) skull but doing fatal mischief to a live person would take fractions of a second.

[exvassalofnemesis]

GOT IT!: A tranquilizer gun that shoots air loaded ammo. A realistic zombie would have a heart beat and no matter where you hit the air would get into the heart (unless on second thought it has to be in the veins) thus killing the zombie in one hit! Just don't get bit while waiting for the zombie to die.

Edit: Never mind just did some research and it looks like it would be a lot of air in the bloodstream not anywhere...*sighs* it seems like I am screwed...I guess I can try the whole, "throw sand or salt into the eyes and while the zombie does a blind-ish lunge dodge then stab in the back of the neck...

[apocalypsepal]

Okay guys so I keep getting posts that the crowbar isn't the ideal weapon. Well if it isn't then what is?

Three words, "twin freaking swords." I absolutely love zombie-fighting weapons. I spent like three hours last night alone browsing Amazon for new weapons.

[Asymetryczna]

You are going to get really excited when you find the "quadruple freakin' sword."

[apocalypsepal]

You are going to get really excited when you find the "quadruple freakin' sword."

I like how you think.

My biggest thing would be making sure that I have a weapon that is potentially interminable. Guns run out of ammo. Bows run out of arrows (or strings break). Keep a melee weapon on hand, and you'll be solid.

[apocalypsepal]

I might also suggest the Schrade SCHF9 Extreme Survivalist Knife. I bought one a few years ago and have been absolutely thrilled with it's performance.

[feanor]

We like reach and multiple types of attacks while it works well in confined spaces. To adress these considerations I'd go with a naginata as long as I'm tall with a detachable blade so I have wakisashi, naginata and a club in one.

[Tobias05]

Anything made by cold steel.

[Close_enough]

GOT IT!: A tranquilizer gun that shoots air loaded ammo. A realistic zombie would have a heart beat and no matter where you hit the air would get into the heart (unless on second thought it has to be in the veins) thus killing the zombie in one hit! Just don't get bit while waiting for the zombie to die.

Edit: Never mind just did some research and it looks like it would be a lot of air in the bloodstream not anywhere...*sighs* it seems like I am screwed...I guess I can try the whole, "throw sand or salt into the eyes and while the zombie does a blind-ish lunge dodge then stab in the back of the neck...

Besides, somebody already beat you to the idea. The Wasp Injection Knife uses the blade as a syringe to inject CO2 into the victim. It's, IMO, mall ninja candy. But, I will admit that injecting high pressure CO2 into the brain cavity of a Zed would make for an amusing (from a safe distance) deanimation.

EDIT: My .02? A camp knife (i.e. Becker BK-9 or Kabar Heavy Bowie) for both camp chores and as a last ditch weapon, a shepherds axe or non-technical ice-axe with a carbide walking spike, and of course my bow. I'd carry a modern Tong-ah in the quiver to give some flexibility to my ammunition choices (see Backyard Bowyers video on DIY Tong-ahs) .

[fred.greek]

A zombie does not feel pain, nor care about wounds to tissue that do not physically prevent the zombie from continuing “efficient” pursuit, grabbing, or chewing.

If the former human is a zombie because the higher brain functions are gone, and it’s just the primitive reptile brain functioning, “killing” that smallish inner part of the brain is not going to be simple.

A zombie with shattered leg bones cannot give chase by running, walking, or shuffling
A zombie with shattered arms / hands cannot grab and hold.
A zombie with shattered jaws cannot bite/chew.

Once large enough caliber ammunition has run out, for relatively isolated zombie contact I would want a nice solid steel bar to be able to shatter bones of zombies.

[CaptainDrewBoy]

Big, blunt and metal.
(Well, I say that, but I love me some lighter stuff too.)

[majorhavoc]

Fighting zombies with a melee weapon offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being: you're fighting zombies with a melee weapon. Depending on whose zombie universe you're inhabiting, one has to worry at about disease infection vectors other than a direct zombie bite.

[flybynight]

Best weapon?

[mrgrtt123]

The only weapon that I have at home is a gun and a labrador retriever, I always keep his large dog crate open.

[JeeperCreeper]

Tongue in cheek aside...

If it were a real zombie apocalypse, I'd probably like a 2# mini sledge. Can be used 1 handed. Can get power without much effort or being unwieldy. Small and compact. $12 from the hardware store.

Blunt brain damage is probably much easier than a blade to someone who is untrained like me.

If I needed a blade, I'd go machete.

Honorable mentions: a tough baseball bat (I used to play pretty competitively) or a regular Estwing carpenter hammer.

Thank goodness the only zombies I've ever seen where on Xbox (to quote to message above me)

[Stercutus]

Blunt brain damage is probably much easier than a blade to someone who is untrained like me.

In that case...

[JeeperCreeper]

Blunt brain damage is probably much easier than a blade to someone who is untrained like me.

In that case...

Ooooo good idea!!! I wonder if zombies will "flip a coin" to decide their fate

[drop bear]

A zombie does not feel pain, nor care about wounds to tissue that do not physically prevent the zombie from continuing “efficient” pursuit, grabbing, or chewing.

If the former human is a zombie because the higher brain functions are gone, and it’s just the primitive reptile brain functioning, “killing” that smallish inner part of the brain is not going to be simple.

A zombie with shattered leg bones cannot give chase by running, walking, or shuffling
A zombie with shattered arms / hands cannot grab and hold.
A zombie with shattered jaws cannot bite/chew.

Once large enough caliber ammunition has run out, for relatively isolated zombie contact I would want a nice solid steel bar to be able to shatter bones of zombies.

Yeah. All those L1A1's we have in storage somewhere would become the perfect weapon.

[Towanda]

If I had to get up close and personal with a zombie, I'd want an Estwing rock hammer.

[boskone]

I'm kinda thinking quarterstaff.

Short of a club, it's about as simple as it gets. It's got a good bit of reach, and I expect that the addition of a knife on the end would allow one to use most of the same skills with a slightly more capable weapon. If I still have a long-arm, they make pretty decent shooting sticks. And, of course, it's still a perfectly functional walking stick.

I've actually thought about finding a HEMA group (for that purpose, entertainment, and a bit of exercise), but the nearest one is 2 hours away. (Kinda surprised since I'm like 30min from Texas Renfest, and there's a pretty big SCA group here.)